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Lesson Plan
Topic: BEACH CULTURE
Level 1
2007 is the Year of the Surf Lifesaver

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Look at the pictures. Discuss:

Who are the people?
Where are they?
What are they doing?
Match these words with the picture
teach

sandcastle

lifesaver

surfer

sunscreen

swimmers

Discuss these questions

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

What season is it now?

Do you like summer or winter?
Do you go to the beach?
Do you like sitting in the sun? What do you wear in the sun?
Have you been to Bondi Beach?
Can you swim? Can your children swim?
Is a surf beach dangerous?

Read the words aloud with your teacher. The stressed syllable is underlined.
Put a tick if you understand the meaning of each word.
remember
children
summer
beach

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teach
sunglasses
sunscreen
flags

swim
weekend
should
dangerous

The Beach
Many Australian people like the beach. In summer they go to the beach with their
family on the weekend. They have a picnic, swim or lie in the sun. Many children also
like the beach. They like to play in the sand and swim in the water.
The sun is very hot in summer. You should wear a hat, sunglasses, a long sleeve top
and sunscreen at the beach.
The beach is a beautiful place but it is also a dangerous place. Remember at the
beach always swim between the red and yellow flags. Always watch your children
near water and teach your children to swim.
Fill in the missing words
Many Australian people like the b__ __ __ __. In s__ __ __ __ __ they go to the
beach with their f __ __ __ __ __ on the weekend. They have a p_ _ _ _ _, swim or
lie in the sun. Many children also like the beach. They like to play in the s__ __ __
and swim in the w__ __ __ __. In Australia the sun is very h __ __ in summer.
You should wear:

____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

Remember always swim between the red and y__ __ __ __ __ f__ __ __ __. Always
watch your c__ __ __ __ __ __ __ near water and teach your children to s__ __ __ .

Write the past tense verbs in the sentences

Present tense

Past tense

go

On the weekend my family __________ to the beach.

is

My son __________ very happy.

play

He ______________

swim

He _________________ in the water.

watch

We ___________________ him in the water.

teach

My husband _____________ my son to swim.

like

We _______________ our day at the beach.

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in the sand.

Level 2 and 3
Australian Beach Culture
The majority of Australias population lives in cities or towns on, or near, the coast.
The beach is a place where millions of Australians escape to where they can relax,
lie in the sun, surf, swim and play. Australia is famous for its beautiful beaches and
warm weather. The beach and surf are part of Australias culture.
Many Australian children can swim because parents take their children to swimming
lessons when they are young and children learn to swim at school. If you go to Bondi
Beach you will see many backpackers and tourists from other countries enjoying the
beach with family and friends.
There are many beaches in Sydney from Manly in the north to Cronulla Beach in the
south of Sydney.
Look at a map and see if you can find these beaches. Have you been to any of these
beaches?

Bronte

Clovelly

Coogee

Maroubra

Cronulla

Manly

Tamarama

Bondi Beach - the most famous beach in Sydney

You can have a great time at the beach, fish, barbeque, swim in the surf and
sunbake; but the beach can also be a dangerous place. About 80 people drown in
New South Wales every year because people dont understand beach safety.
Surf lifesavers and lifeguards patrol Australian beaches. The lifesavers are
volunteers and they wear red and yellow uniforms. For lifeguards the beach is a
place of work. Every summer, lifesavers and lifeguards rescue about 10,000 people
at New South Wales beaches.
Lifesavers and lifeguards patrol beaches every weekend and public holidays from
September to April usually from 9am to 5pm. Lifesavers love the water and are good
swimmers. They like to help people enjoy the beach and have a safe time.
Surf Lifesavers say:
If we cant see you, we cant save you
So remember swim between the flags

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Answer these questions from the story

1. Where do many Australian people like to go on weekends in summer? Why?
2. Who patrols surf beaches in Australia? Do they get paid?
3. What colour uniforms do surf lifesavers wear?
4. What are the names of some beaches in Sydney?
5. How many people drown in NSW every year?
6. Where is the safe place to swim at a surf beach?
7. What advice do surf lifesavers give?

True or False
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Australia is an island.
Beaches can be dangerous places.
There are a lot of sharks in the water.
Bluebottles bite you.
Lifesavers are good swimmers.

Look at the picture and answer

1
2
3
4
5
6

Who is this person?

Where is he?
What does he do?
What is he wearing?
Does he get paid for his job?
What advice does he give swimmers?

Match the vocabulary from the story with the meaning

1

surf lifesavers

where the sea meets the land

patrol

they rescue people at the beach

surrounded

to go around all sides

coast

to walk around and protect

famous

something that is not safe

tourist

a visitor from another country

dangerous

something that is well known

drown

to die in the water

volunteer

to save somebody in trouble

10 uniform

a person who works for no money

11 rescue

special clothes for work

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Syllable stress
In English some syllables are stressed more than others. Repeat the words below
after your tutor with the correct stress. Look at these examples below. The stress is
on the capital letters.
1 syllable:

COAST

DROWN

2 syllables:

LIFEsaver

paTROL

3 syllables:

VOLunteer

DANgerous

SURF
TOURist

REScue

surROUNded Uniform

Rules for beach safety:

Understanding the ocean is very important - the more you know about how waves,
wind and tides affect conditions in the water, the better able you are to keep yourself
and others safe. Recognising danger signs and awareness of surf conditions is an
essential part of lifesaving.

Put in the correct word below

ask

get

find

look

stay

_______ the red and yellow flags and swim between them This is the safest
place to swim at the beach.

_______at the safety signs on the beach. They help you identify potential
dangers and daily conditions at the beach.
______ a lifesaver for advice surf conditions can change quickly, so always
check before you enter the water.

A
G

______a friend to swim with you, you should never swim alone. Always watch
your children near water.

_______calm. Put your hand up for help if you are in trouble. Float with a
current or rip - don't try to swim against it!

Remember:
Never swim at unpatrolled beaches (No flags dont swim)
Never swim at night
Never swim after drinking too much alcohol
Never run and dive into the water
Never swim just after a meal

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Keeping our beaches clean

Australia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We like to look after
our beaches and respect other users by keeping our beaches clean. So when you go
to the beach it is important to put all your rubbish in the bin, or take it with you. This
way everyone can continue to enjoy Australias clean beaches.
Clean

respect

rubbish

bin

enjoy

Answer these questions. Use some of these words in your answer:

occasionally, sometimes, always, never, always, often, not very often
1. Do you ever go to the beach?
2. Do you swim?
3. Do you lie in the sun? Do you use sunscreen? Do you wear a hat in the sun?
4. Where do you usually go on weekends?
5. In your country did you go swimming?
6. Do you remember 2 things you must not do at a surf beach?
7. What things should you tell children about swimming at a beach?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

An article about how the beach has long occupied a special place in the Australian
identity and links to relevant online resources are provided at
www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/beach/

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The Surf and Rips

Do you know what a rip is? Have you ever seen a rip at a beach?

Rips
A rip is a strong current going out to sea. Rips cause the most rescues at beaches.
The larger the surf, the stronger the rip. Rips are dangerous. They can take a
swimmer out into deep water very quickly.
Identifying a Rip
One or more of following features might alert you to the presence of a rip:
darker colour, indicating deeper water
murky brown water caused by sand stirred up off the bottom
smoother surface with much smaller waves, alongside white water
waves breaking further out to sea on both sides of the rip
debris floating out to sea
a rippled look, when the water around is generally calm

How to Escape from a Rip

1.

Dont panic

2.

Never swim against the current

3.

Put your hand up for help

4.

Float on your back, stay calm

Can you see the rip in the water?

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Beach Safety Signs

When you get to the beach you should always check the safety signs as they
may change every day. The Red and Yellow flags will tell you the safest place
to swim.
Talk about the signs and their meaning with your students

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Put in the correct word

Always swim at beaches patrolled by l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s.
Always swim between the red and yellow f _ _ _ s.
Read the beach safety s _ _ _ s.
If you are not sure of the surf, ask a l_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
Don't swim after a m_ _ _.
Don't swim after drinking too much al_ _ __ _ _.
Never run or dive into the w _ _ _ _.
Look out for r _ _ s at the beach.
If you get into trouble, stay c _ _ _. Put your h _ _ _ up for help.
F_ _ _ _ if you are not a good swimmer.
Use 30+ s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and wear a long sleeve shirt and a h_ _.
Keep the beach clean, put your rubbish in the b _ _.

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Complete the sentences below with the endings in the box

If you swim between the red and yellow flags

.

If you need help in the

water.

If you want to read information about beach safety

..

If you are still not sure about beach safety

..

If you swim with a friend

If your children are playing near water

If someone needs help in the water

If we cant see you

A. you can look out for each other.

B.

look for the safety signs.

C. ask a lifesaver.
D. the lifesavers can see you.
E. always watch them.
F.

call for a surf lifesaver or lifeguard or call 000.

G. put up your arm. Stay calm, float and wait for help.
H. we cant save you

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A newspaper article about volunteering

Adapted from the The Sun Herald 29 Oct 2000

Migrants to the Rescue

Aussies who patrol our beaches hope to increase their numbers for Surf Lifesaving
from more diverse backgrounds.
90% of non Anglo Saxon people said they knew about surf lifesaving but didnt
become lifesavers because they didnt have friends who were volunteers or they
couldnt swim.
Stephen Domokos arrived in Australia 3 years ago. He had never seen the beach
before he came here. He is one of three Hungarian lifesavers at Bondi Beach who
became lifesavers last summer.
Its a challenge saving people, telling them what to do and whats going on with the
water, he said.
Mr Domokos is different to other lifesavers because 86% of lifesavers have one or
two parents born in Australia.

Read the article above about volunteer lifesavers and answer the questions
1. What type of volunteers has the Surf Lifesaving clubs got now?
2. Who are the Surf Lifesaving clubs looking for?
3. Why dont non Anglo Saxon people become lifesavers?
4. Why is Steven Domokos an unusual volunteer?
5. What does Steven think about surf lifesaving?
Discussion:
The volunteer movement is very important in Australia. It is a way to help people in
our community. Discuss what other work volunteers do and about volunteer work in
your country. Have you ever done any volunteer work?
To conclude, the Surf Life Saving New South Wales internet site contains a number
of fact sheets on a variety of topics including Flags, Rip Currents, Safety Signs,
Large Surf, Waves and Sun Safety.
There are also simple beach safety tips in different languages, including Chinese,
Arabic, Vietnamese, Spanish and Tagalog at
www.surflifesaving.com.au - Education resources - On the Same Wave

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